I'm Emily, a Dallas-based wedding photographer and educator! I absolutely love sharing the stories behind recent Dallas wedding photography, my amazing brides and grooms, and some personal and business musings here and there! I hope you enjoy your time on my blog!

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March 19, 2018

“Engagement Season” has officially begun in Texas! We have definitely entered that three month period in which the couples who have booked their wedding photography are ready to take their engagement photos. And I absolutely love it! It’s like a “warm up” in so many different ways…the season itself allows me to “warm up” for wedding season; I get to work one-on-one with each couple as a “warm up” for their big day; and on a literal note, the temperatures are finally “warming up” here!

Madison and Preston are one of the couples I’ll be working with again this coming November! They will be tying the knot at Knotting Hill Place in Elm Mott, Texas – and get this, it will be the VERY FIRST wedding at this stunning venue! I’d been following the venue build on Instagram for some time. There is truly nothing like it here in the Dallas area! When this sweet couple reached out about having me capture their wedding day there, I was ecstatic!

Not only am I thrilled for their venue – I am also over-the-moon excited just to be Madison and Preston’s engagement and wedding photographer. Just take one look at these two and you will see exactly what I mean! They have this contagious energy that leaps right from their photographs. Madison’s smile alone is just radiant! Trust me, if you’d been there for some behind-the-scenes action, you would have seen a big goofy grin on my face!

Madison and Preston wanted a natural feel to their engagement photos, so we chose Arbor Hills Nature Preserve as the perfect backdrop. But first we stopped at Shops at Legacy, which added great variety to their full gallery. The combination of a manicured “uptown” look followed by the rolling hills and nature was stunning!

I love taking the opportunity to learn more about couples during their engagement session. For example, I discovered that Madison and Preston have been together since middle school! They first met in a musical production of Beauty and the Beast. Of course, Madison played the role of Belle and Preston played the role of the Beast! And would you believe it – their very first kiss was in their theatre class in rehearsal! Having a theatre background myself, this is just so very heartwarming to me! Nowadays, Preston works in finance and accounting while Madison is finishing up nursing school. But music is still very much a part of their lives – they actually lead worship together for their student ministry! Preston brought his guitar with him to their engagement session, so of course we had to end with a little serenading!

Enjoy some of my favorites from this Shops at Legacy and Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Engagement Session below!

How did you two meet?

“Preston and I actually met in middle school! In 8th grade, we were casted as Belle and the Beast in the musical, “Beauty and the Beast”. That is when we really became best friends and even shared our first kiss on stage! We have been together ever since!”

How did he propose?

“Preston proposed to me on October 21, 2017 at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas! I had planned to come home from college that weekend to be with my family, and Preston told me he could not come home with me since he had to work. So I had no idea he was even in town! My family and I got dressed up went to the Crescent Hotel to take “Christmas card photos”. While we were taking the photos in the beautifully lit-up courtyard, a man walked by in a Beast costume from “Beauty and the Beast” – mask and all! I didn’t think too much about it because it was so close to Halloween. I had no idea what was going on! We asked if I could take a photo with the man in the beast costume, since that Disney musical meant so much to me and my relationship. As I was taking a photo with the “Beast”, he removed the mask and it was Preston! I was so shocked to see him there. He got down on one knee and proposed. After I said yes, I turned around and his entire family was there as well! We ended the night in Dallas eating dinner as a family and just being together. It was the best night ever!”

Tell me about the details you’re most excited about for your upcoming wedding!

“We are the most excited to not only have all both of our families together, but to also have every person who has made an impact on our relationship over the last 8 years together in one place! Everyone that will be there has played a role in our relationship and we are excited to celebrate with them!”

Do you have any tips or advice for other couples about to have engagement photos taken?

“Just look at it as a super fun date night! It is a chance to get all dressed up and just stare at the person you love for a few hours. It’s the best!”

How was your overall engagement session experience?

“We had an amazing experience taking out engagement photos! Emily made us feel so comfortable and we immediately fell in love with her. It was such a fun experience and we are thrilled with the way they turned out!”

What do you find most intriguing about the other?

Preston’s answer:“Madison is the most genuine person I know. Her love for others is one of the most beautiful things about her. She is also a very compassionate person, and that compassion and love for others spills over into the lives of the people around her. She inspires me daily to have that same love and compassion to impact others.”

Madison’s answer:“Preston is so talented! Not only does he play so many different instruments, but he also is an amazing singer. I am impressed daily by his ability to use his talents to help lead others in worship. His heart for the Lord, for others, and for music are just some of the many things I love about him. He is so kind-hearted and the best person I know. Jesus blessed me big time!”

I hope you’ve loved viewing some of my favorites from this sweet Shops at Legacy and Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Engagement Session If you’re recently engaged and looking for a Dallas engagement photographer or Dallas wedding photographer, I would be thrilled to hear from you! Just visit my site and reach out to get connected! I can’t wait to hear from you!